After School Activities

The Brothers in School Uniform

Eldest Son was invited to his 1st Birthday party this afternoon - by a girl he didn't know. Brazilian family who used to be at the school and going home next month so the girl just stays at home while waiting for the return. And she has invited the whole class to her Birthday party.

An afternoon at the local bowling. I accepted the invitation as it's always good for him to be with children his age and also to get rid of him for a few hours, of course. Some absence can only make the heart grow fonder.

We arrived at the bowling and waited a little outside as the Birthday Girl was late. A blue Ferrari pulled up and a little blonde girl alighted from it. R told me that it's a Swedish family (she knows them very well) who owns at least 20 Ferraris. Ironic that Hub works for the company and couldn't even afford to own a tyre of the car.

I recognised a few of the other parents. Ferrari, Tetra Pak...The school is quite small so soon everyone will know everybody at least by sight. It struck me that we now move in a priviledged circle. Where kids can afford to invite the whole class (even kids they didn't know) to a few hours of bowling which probably wouldn't be cheap (so no cheap presents either). At the local pool, I couldn't sign up the kids for the swimming lessons as they were already full. And at least half of the class consists of kids from the International School.

I have spent the whole of last week running around trying to find after school activities for the children. I am horrified by the prices. In Stuttgart, for example, I paid 65 Euros a year for the son to play football and learn Judo in a local sports club. Over here, just football alone will cost 220 Euros a year. Tennis 370, Golf 6-800.

I've been talking to a few Italians and expats and they all told me that over here, rich kids get to have fun and those whose parents couldn't afford to pay will just stay at home. In Paris and in Stuttgart, activities for children are well-organised and reasonably-priced because it is the right of (almost) every child to be exposed to a few sports and cultural activities. And they also tend to be conveniently located (the kids could usually walk, cycle or take public transport if they want to) unlike here where the mother really has to be a full-time chauffeur.

But maybe the problem is with the region where we are. Italy in general isn't too expensive, but walk into Emilia Romagna and especially in the region around Maranello and Formigine and prices start to grow crazy. A Singapore-Swedish family apparently left a few years ago because they found the region more expensive than even Sweden!

Tomorrow Hubby will bring the Son to the Golf Club to try out a bit of Golf. We'll probably sign the boy up for Golf, Tennis and Guitar this year. And at school, he may join the English and Cricket Clubs. For the Babies, I hope to get them a place in Swimming next term and maybe Ballet classes for Baby Girl. I'm still hoping to learn the flute. And maybe also pick up Golf.

So while the Son was bowling away in the afternoon, we went around looking for a tractor and also looked at some plants. Discovered this plant that claimed to be anti-mosquito (with a European Patent etc)! Fancy if we could grow this in Singapore...think of the Dengue scare.

Finally, we found our 8th scorpion this morning and just 30 minutes ago I saw a little mouse in the house (but it escaped me - though if it didn't I do not know if I'd have the courage to smash it).

Voilà some news of the moment. By the way, if you're reading this Dad, can you please try to get me on Skype tomorrow? I've just heard about the cataract and would like to know all about it.